Following his loss in the Congressional District 16 race last November, former Assemblymember Evan Low has found a new gig: serving as the president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute and the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.
Low, 41, who in 2009 was the youngest openly gay mayor in the country when he selected for the position while serving on the Campbell City Council, will lead the two organizations dedicated to training and electing the next generation of LGBTQ+ officials.
Low’s appointment to the role comes as President Donald Trump has targeted transgender individuals through recent executive orders and some Democrats — like former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg — have raised concerns about the Supreme Court overturning a 2015 landmark ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.
“Today, we face an existential crisis,” Low said in a news release announcing his new job. “The LGBTQ+ community, along with other historically excluded communities, are being systematically legislated out of existence. I am committed to ensuring our voices are not just included, but impossible to ignore — and represented at the highest levels of office.”
Low got involved in politics at a young age with his election to the Campbell City Council in 2006 when he was 23 years old. He served as mayor from 2009 to 2014 when he was elected to the California State Assembly.
As a state legislator, Low represented a district that represented Cupertino, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and parts of north and west San Jose. He served as the chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus and in 2023, Low — along with State Sen. Scott Scott Weiner — introduced an amendment to enshrine same-sex marriage in the state’s constitution. Proposition 3, the subsequent 2024 ballot measure to repeal 2008’s Proposition 8, was overwhelming passed by voters.
In December 2023, Low jumped into a crowded field to replace U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo in the House of Representatives. He tied former Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian for second in the primary, though a contentious recount knocked Simitian off the November ballot. Low lost the race to now U.S. Rep. Sam Liccardo, the former mayor of San Jose.
LGBTQ+ Victory Action Board Chair Wade Rakes said in a news release that Low “will not only expand opportunities but also reinforce the positive influence of LGBTQ+ leaders across the U.S. and internationally. His expertise, experience and humanity will fortify Victory to build an even stronger, more inclusive future for all.”
Low said that the Victory Fund and Victory Institute has “shaped (his) journey in public service.” In 2008, Low was a part of the Victory Institute’s David Bohnett Leaders Fellowship, which sent him to the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government. Low later served on the Victory Institute’s board of directors.
“As a twenty-year-old candidate, I experienced firsthand the power of our commitment to training and electing future leaders,” Low said. “Twenty years later, I am coming home to continue that mission — welcoming current and new supporters in our work to secure more seats at more tables and make our voices heard in more halls of power worldwide.”
Low will succeed former Houston Mayor Annise Parker.
